Paper clip



July 20, 1943. w. A: JENNiNGS PAPER CLIP Filed Feb. 24, 1942 Patented July 20, 1943 v UNITED PAT ENTILOFFlC E1 PAPER our 7 Willis A. ennings, McKees-Itocks, Pa. Application February, 24, 194.2, Serial No. 432,100

p p 1 Claim. (01. 24 2e1) H V V I I This invention relates to a paper clip, and necting portions 4 are joined with the'lower. ends. portant objects and advantages thereof are to provide a clip of the character-described, which ay be conveniently manipulated andfemployed.

forsecuring together aplurality of papers-and which may be readily removed from the latter,

which exerts an exceptionally stron gripping or clamping action to, prevent the inadvertent disengagement of secured papers, which will-not ment, flat and compact, durable and eflicient in its use, and comparatively economical in its man- I ufacture. I

With the foregoing and other objectsin view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts herein specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, but it is to be understood that changes in the form, proportions and details of construction may be resorted to that come within the scope of the claim hereunto appended.

In the drawing wherein like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts through the several views:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a paper clip constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view thereof.

Figure 3 is a rear elevational View of the clip and illustrating the attachment of the latter with a paper sheet.

Figures 4 and 5 are side elevational views of' modified forms of clips.

Figure 6 is a rear elevational view of a pin type of clip embodying the present invention.

Figure 7 is a similar view of a dual type of clip.

The improved clip is constructed of a single unitary piece or length of suitable resilient wire, which is bent or shaped to provide the conformation of the clip structure.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the improved clip generally comprises a forwardly disposed clamping member I and a rearwardly disposed backing frame 2. The clamping member is substantially inverted U-shaped.

The clamping member I is comparatively narrow with respect to the width of th backing frame 2, and includes a pair of depending, spaced and parallel disposed clamping arms 3. The lower ends of the latter are joined with respective connecting portions 4 of the backing frame 2. The connecting portions 4 extend laterally outward at right angles relatively to the respective clamping arms 3. The outer ends of the conof respectiveside members '5 of the backing frame 2. Thesidemembers 5 extend vertically at right angles to respective connecting portions 4-and aredisposed parallel to each other.

The top freeend portionst; of the backing adjacent to the upper end of the sidemernber i not joined therewith.

The upper; end of the. clampin member j projects a considerable distance above the top free end portions 6 of the backing frame 2, and is formed with an offset 1 to dispose same forwa'rdly with respect to the longitudinal alignment of the clamping arms 3. The clamping member I extends at a slight angle with respect to the longitudinal disposition of the side members 5 of the backing frame 2, and the normal resilient action of said clamping member tends to force the offset 1 against the front and center of the free end portions 6 of the backing frame 2.

As shown in Figure 3, the improved clip is attached to papers 8, by inserting edge margins of the latter between the clamping member I and the backing frame 2. As the clamping member is disposed centrally of the rectangularly-shaped backing frame, a centralized clamping action is effected, whereby engaged papers will be securely held together in uniformly squared arrangement.

The engagement of the offset 1, in the clamping member I, against the interposed and engaged papers will augment the gripping action of the clip, and such gripping action may be further enhanced by suitably roughing contacting faces of the clamping member and of the backing frame 2, as respectively indicated at 9 and Ill.

The modified form of paper clip, shown in Figure 4, differs from the clip disclosed in Figure 2 and above described only in that the clamping member [5 is corrugated to increase The free end; portions 6 extend in parallel relation to each, other, and the free endszthereof are disposed,

its gripping action, and while extending parallel to the side members N5 of the associated backing frame I1, it is disposed slightly forward of the latter to particularly adapt same for use in securing together a relatively large number of paper sheets.

It will here be noted that any part of the improved clip or the entire clip structure itself may obviously be constructed of suitably corrugated wire to augment the gripping and clamping action of the device. Further the position of the ofisets in the clamping members maybe varied to most efliciently efiect gripping and clamping action.

Figure 6 shows a pin clip embodying the present invention. The pin clip comprises an inverted U-shaped clamping member l8 including a pair of depending arms l9 and 2.. The arm I9 carries a, backing frame 2|, which latter constitutes one-half of the formation of the lacking frame of the paper clips heretniafore described. Thearm misemmdedtopmfidea molmting pin 22 adapted for insertion m the m-oduet inconnection with which the pin dip is employed. taming to the product is intended to be clamped and held between the clamping member It and tile backing frame 2 I. r

The dual clip shown in Figure 'l differs from the pin clip only in that a pair of longitudinally aligned backing frames 23, 2 with associated clamping members, a, are prdyidd tastes! oi one such backing frame and the associated mounting pin.

The dual type of clip is adapted for various uses and is used by clamping one object between A card, displaying data apperthe backing frame 23 and the clamping member 25, and another object between the backing member 24 and its associated clamping member 26.

The present invention provides a most eiiicient device of its kind, which may be economically manufactured and conveniently employed for the purposes and in the manner herein set forth.

What I claim is: I

A papenciip constructed of a unitary length of resilient wire comprising the combination of a substantially inverted U-shaped clamping member including a pair of parallel vertically disposed clamping arms, a pair of connecting portions extending laterally outward from the lower ends of respective arms at right angles to the latter, a pair of side members extending vertically upward from and at right angles to the outer ends of respective connecting portions, a pair of top free end portions joined with the upper ends of respective side members and being disposed inward at right angles with respect to the iatter, said free end portions extending in opposite directions with respectto each other in contacting parallel overlapping arrangement, the end of each of said free end portions being disposed at the upper end of the side member not joinedtherewith, the upper end of said clamping member pmieeting above said pair of free end portions and being formed with an offset, said pair or fiee end portions normally'resiliently ento said pair of side members.

WILLIS A. JENNINGS. 

